Local Government Updates

Local Government updates

State Senator Jack M. Martins and Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel were joined today by village elected officials to announce that their legislation, which is critical to the upcoming village elections, was recently signed into law. The Democratic process can now go forward on March 15 and in June when residents head to the polls to vote in their village elections.

The legislation (A.3093b/S.3216) sponsored by Senator Martins and Assemblywoman Schimel allows village governments to continue using lever voting machines as they have in the past until December 31st, 2012.

Perhaps the most important part of our Democratic process is our citizens’ ability to vote and elect those who will make the crucial decisions for our local governments. On the local level, villages provide our residents with basic services, from emergency services, water and garbage collection to snow removal. As the former mayor for a village for eight years, I am fully aware of the effectiveness of our local villages.

This March and June, residents will be going to the polls to elect fellow residents to serve on the various village boards. Our citizens must be able to vote in a system that is accurate and effective so that the Democratic process continues. It is critical for our system of government.

The first bill sponsored by Senator Jack M. Martins, chairman of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Local Governments, passed in the New York State Senate and is one that hits close to home. Senator Martins, who served as a village mayor for eight years, worked on an emergency bill that allows villages to continue to use lever machines in time for their upcoming elections. That bill passed both houses of the Legislature and now Senator Martins is calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign it.

"We sent him a bill that makes sense, saves taxpayers money and makes sure we preserve the integrity of our voting system while the county boards of election continue the transition to the new machines," Senator Martins said.

To gather expert testimony on the most effective way for New York State to proceed in its efforts to provide tax relief to its residents while protecting valuable services, Senator Jack M. Martins, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Local Government, and Senator John Flanagan, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Education, hosted a joint hearing entitled “The True Path to Reducing New York’s Real Property Tax Burden: Mandate Relief and Tax Caps”.

Senator Jack M. Martins, the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Local Government, and Senator John Flanagan, the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Education, co-chaired a public hearing on mandate relief at the Nassau County Courthouse on Thursday, February 17. The hearing featured guest speakers who testified on the importance of mandate relief and what it would mean in terms of easing the property tax burden.

As I complete my second month serving the people of the 7th Senate District, I am continuously reminded that these are interesting times in New York State. There are discussions going on in Albany about subjects that are now getting the serious attention they deserve. Mandate relief, for example, is something we need to discuss in the coming months, especially in light of the likelihood that a 2 percent tax cap will be implemented.

Due to the efforts of State Senator Jack M. Martins , the Democratic process can go forward on March 15 when residents of villages head to the polls to vote in village elections. The New York State Senate recently passed legislation, sponsored by Senator Martins that allows village governments to continue to use lever voting machines for elections until December 31, 2012.